The first step in the planning and developing of rural areas is identifying and studying facilities and capabilities and, subsequently, determining the levels of development of rural areas. In the planning and development process of rural areas, recognizing the regions in terms of the status quo and the development level, studying local and regional differences in terms of development, explaining the factors affecting development and, eventually, attempting to solve issues and problems and meeting the needs in line with moderating the current inequalities is quite significant. The need to identify deprived regions and villages is essential in order to plan for the optimal allocation of facilities and services to reduce or eliminate poverty, deprivation and regional inequalities for attaining sustainable development. The present article uses a descriptive-analytical method, as well as VIKOR method and Prescott Allen model to investigate the enjoyment status of rural settlements in Ardebil province (as the statistical population of the study), educational, health-treatment, communication and transportation, commercial and political-administrative services indicators (based on the data extracted from the Statistical Yearbook of the Province). In total, after formatting, development indicators in the Allen Prescott model showed that the rural settlements of Ardebil were at the developed level (0.81  Fi ≤1), Moghan county at a relatively developed level (0.61  Fi ≤ 0.80), Nir, Pars-Abad, Khalkhal, Namin, Moser and Meshkinshahr were at the developing level (0.41  Fi ≤ 0.60), and Sarein and Billesavsar counties were at a relatively developing level (0.21  Fi ≤ 0.40). The reflection of factors such as the centralized management structure, environmental factors, and the failures of the spatial planning system should be mentioned in the outcome of development gap analysis.

Ghafari Ghilandeh, Ata (2001): Evaluation of the physical development of the city and providing a proper model for urban development using GIS in the form of sustainable land development model (case study: Ardabil). Master Thesis, Tarbiat Modarres University. (In Persian).

Lees, N.)2010(. Inequality as an Obstacle to World Political Community and Global Social Justice. Oxford University, Paper to be presented at the SGIR 7th Annual Conference on International Relations, Sweden, September, 9- 11th.